Indian Olympic Association Prepares For Meeting With IOC Top Brass

Two top Indian Olympic Association officials are preparing to leave for Switzerland for a meeting with IOC officials to "plead their case" in the wake of the IOC's decision to propose IOA's suspension in its exec board meeting, according to the PTI. The IOA had sought a meeting of its two representatives -- Narinder Batra and RK Anand -- with the IOC after the world body decided to "propose India for disaffiliation" in an exec board meeting to be held Tuesday and Wednesday. The IOA was under scrutiny for "going ahead with its election process under the government's Sports Code." It is "still unclear what will happen" to the IOA elections if the world body decides to suspend India. The IOC had said in an earlier letter that the IOA elections "held under the government's contentious Sports Code will not be recognised." Hockey India General Secretary Batra said, "We have got the flight tickets for three days from today onward and we will board the flight as soon as we get a confirmation of the meeting from the IOC's side. We have prepared everything to present our case before the IOC officials. We have done our homework and we are hopeful of a favorable result" (PTI, 12/3).

HEAVY SANCTIONS LOOMING: The AFP reported suspension from IOC membership would mean India "would not receive IOC funding and its officials would be banned from attending Olympic meetings and events." India's athletes would also be "barred from competing in the Olympics under the national flag, although the IOC could allow some to take part under the Olympic flag" (AFP, 12/3).